The boycott of Starbucks in 2025 is primarily driven by two main issues:
- Palestine Solidarity Boycott: Starting in late 2023, a major global boycott movement against Starbucks emerged due to its perceived stance against Palestine solidarity. This intensified when Starbucks sued its own employee union, Starbucks Workers United, for a pro-Palestine social media post. Many consumers worldwide reacted by boycotting Starbucks products in solidarity with Palestine. This boycott significantly impacted Starbucks financially, contributing to store closures, job cuts, and sales declines, especially visible in places like Malaysia and Saudi Arabia, where revenues collapsed and investments were pulled away. Starbucks has been silent publicly about the boycott, attributing their troubles to inflation and competition, but evidence suggests the boycott is a major factor in their business challenges.
- Unionization and Labor Rights Issues: Another key reason for the boycott relates to Starbucks' resistance to its workers unionizing. The company has faced criticism and protests over how it treats unionization efforts, including suing the union and closing unionized stores, which fueled labor rights-oriented boycotts. These labor struggles have become entwined with broader political activism including the Palestine solidarity movement. Consumers and student activists have pushed back against Starbucks by holding protests and encouraging boycotts on university campuses and beyond, amplifying the call for ethical corporate behavior.
In summary, the Starbucks boycott is a combination of consumer activism against the company's political stance perceived as anti-Palestinian, combined with opposition to its labor practices and union busting. This dual pressure has caused significant financial and reputational strain on Starbucks in 2025.
